March - April 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel

Reclaiming "Gospel"

by Ken Westby

The other day I tuned in to a cable religious program and was treated to some big muscle "gospel weight lifters" breaking boards and tearing telephone books in two . . . for Jesus. What was the point - "Follow Jesus and you'll build intimidating bulk!" OR "Look, not all Christians are weenies!"? . . . The point seemed to be "Gospel" sells.

Drive down to the gospel book store and check out the "spiritual power" books on the rack under the sign "Gospel Sale 50% Off!" While you're there, buy some "gospel" music by the hottest "gospel" artists. Pick up a "gospel" bumper sticker ("Honk If You Love Jesus!") - and maybe a "gospel" wall plaque on your way out. Then, relax while listening to "gospel" radio on the way home.

What is "the Gospel?"

Has the word "gospel" become generic, like Kleenex, for anything religious? Is "gospel" just another undefined punch word used by raspy-voiced TV revival preachers OR merely a common verbal condiment to be sprinkled liberally over sentimental church-talk? Has "gospel" become so trivialized that all sense of its original majesty of meaning is lost?

The biblical word translated "gospel" comes to us from the Greek (euangelion) and has a specific meaning: "Good News." Its usage comes from the "good news" of victory proclaimed by a messenger returning from battle; the "good news" was the content of the message. We see that Christ used this standard Greek word to announce the revolutionary content of His Gospel/Good News; . . . the question is, "Good News" of what and for whom?

"Jesus went throughout Galilee . . . preaching the good news of the kingdom" (Mat 4:23). "The time has come," He said, "the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15). The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the central message of Christ and His apostles. It is the news that some day God will rule over all - that Christ will literally end all war and suffering, raise the dead, usher in a marvelous age of universal peace and prosperity, and rule on earth for one thousand years (a millennial Sabbath) - as the first step toward eternity; (See Isaiah 2 & 11, Rev 5:10, as well as chapters 19 through 22). That is God's Good News: there is a new world coming - His!

The biblical idea of the Kingdom of God is deeply rooted in the Old Testament teaching: that there is one eternal God who has a plan for mankind and that He has revealed Himself unto those whom He created in His image. Christ, as the Son of the Living God, came to reveal His Father more fully and with a mission to show men and women how they might enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 20, 7:21). Christ's mighty works proved that the King of that Kingdom had come among them; His parables illustrated truths of the Kingdom. On the eve of His death, He reassured His disciples that they would happily share His fellowship again - when He would bring the Kingdom.

After His resurrection Jesus did not swerve from this message: "He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). At the heart of His model prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray to our Heavenly Father: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This prayer petitions God to come and reign, to manifest His power and wisdom as King over all the world.

The fact is, the Kingdom of God is not one built by men. It is not voted in, nor gradually constructed in the hearts of men, nor brought about by religious revivals or massive socio-political change (on any human level). The Kingdom of God is the governmental rule of the Eternal Majesty and His divine Son. As an act of God, with splendor and great force, it will soon be brought to Earth.

God's Kingdom is miraculous and supernatural. It is wholly of God's design and working. It is also holy because it will be filled with the presence of God- just as, in the paradise of Eden, the holy Sabbath hosted God's peaceful fellowship with man. What began on a Sabbath will be completed on a millennial Sabbath: the Kingdom of God- the heart of the Gospel.

Where do we fit in? To Christian men and women, the Gospel message has been entrusted. We've been commissioned with the high responsibility to proclaim the Good News of God's Kingdom, complete with its salvation announcement of how one and all can now come under God's loving rule. At the personal level the terms for entering God's Kingdom are these: repentance of sin (which is rebellion against God's righteous rule and principles), acceptance of Christ as our Savior and King, and commitment to live a new life - now, under His rule rather than our own.

On God's part, He offers both to pay the cost of our sins and to forgive them. When we, in faith, accept His holy grace, God further gifts us with His Holy Spirit - to help us become like Him in righteous mind and character. The indwelling of God's Holy Spirit is our guarantee to His promised gift of eternal life: making us a son or daughter in His Family - the crowning blessings of great rewards and an eternal inheritance.

The Kingdom of God belongs to the present as well as the future; but, to enter the future realm, one must willingly submit oneself in perfect trust to God's rule here and now. This spiritual contract for citizenship into the Family and Kingdom of God is perfectly symbolized by the rite of baptism (see Romans 6). It is signed with the blood of the King Himself.

We do not know when Christ will appear in the heavens - bringing His rule (soon hopefully), but it is certain that we had better take seriously the charge to share God's Good News far and wide. Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14).

This true Gospel is spectacularly "great news" - both at the personal level (forgiveness, grace, salvation) and at the global level (crime, war, suffering, and injustice giving way to happiness, peace, and plenty). The whole world desperately needs this news - as it nervously moves into the third millennium AD. As our culture decays in sin and cynicism, young and old alike cry out for meaning and hope. Will they hear the Good News of the Kingdom of God - or just the sweet whine of Nashville "gospel"...and the sound of "Jocks for Jesus" tearing telephone books?

The best way to reclaim the word "Gospel" is to focus on sharing its Good News: The Kingdom of God - mankind's last, best and only hope.

Kenneth Westby is Director of the Association for Christian Development and host of the weekly Virtual Church, live by phone (918-222-7158) 11 AM Pacific Standard Time Saturdays.

TSS

March - April 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel